This Saturday will mark the third Saturday that Rain Dogs has been serving brunch. If you haven’t gone yet, go! If you have gone, go again!
Since this is Rain Dogs we’re talking about, it’s not your usual grab a jacket and tie sort of brunch. You don’t even need a button down, collared shirt.
It’s a laid back, mellow sort of brunch. It’s what branch should be.
They call their brunch, “Beats, Brunch and Bubbly”.
Beats
Supplying the beats is DJ Honeydo. She spins some of the smoothest grooves these old ears have heard in a long time.
Many of the brunch destinations in town fall into one of two camps, either playing stale, dry, soulless elevator music, or they have top forty or flat screen televisions blaring so loud you can’t think let alone enjoy your meal.
You can definitely enjoy your meal at a Rain Dog’s Brunch. You can even hold a conversation. You can also hold a first rate mimosa in your hand while washing it all down, as the kids say, with the dopest music around.
Brunch
Serving the food is Brooks Brothers BBQ which consist of the Brooks Brothers as well as their Mom and their Dad, Chef Adam.
You’d be hard pressed to find a nicer family or better barbecue.
There are many barbecue places who excel in one area or another. They may have two or three things that they do better than any other place, while lacking in other areas, other dishes. Brooks Brothers BBQ excels at everything they do.
I have not had anything that wasn’t exceptionally well prepared and served.
That’s why when I learned they would be serving brunch at Rain Dogs I had to go. Their current menu consists of a Weekly special for $13 as well as;
Weekly menu items:
BBQ Potato hash breakfast w/ peppers and onions and cheese served w/ fried eggs
Kale and Quinoa breakfast w/ peppers, onions and cheese served w/ fried eggs
Breakfast Burrito made w/ scrambled eggs, cheese, peppers and onions wrapped, pressed and toasted off the griddle.
Jacksonville famous French Pantry bread included with all menu items.
Vegan and gluten free options available.
All weekly menu items served with or without your choice of meat and cheese
$7 w/o meat $9 w/ meat
Meat choices:
Slap yo’ Mama’s butt rubbed pulled pork
Jacksonville’s own Azar Andouille sausage
Back to that Special. The special last Saturday was Shrimp N’ Grits.
Now there are very few things on this earth that I enjoy eating more than Shrimp and Grits so there was no question in my belly as far as what to order.
But I’m also a huge fan of how Brooks Brothers prepares Azar Andouille sausage so I asked to get that as a side and Chef Adam was kind enough to add it at no extra cost.
The Shrimp N’ Grits was a Lowcountry South Carolina Pawleys Island Shrimp N’ Grits recipe that has been in the Brooks family for years. Fantail Mayport shrimp served on top of creamy cheddar cheese grits.
I expected it to be great but It was even better than I had anticipated! My top three favorite Shrimp and Grits places in Jacksonville had been;
1. Southern Charm, Art Jennette’s place.
2. Simply Sara’s, Sara (aka Sally) and James Mangham’s restaurant
3. Black Sheep Restaurant
Brooks Brothers BBQ is now my #1 Shrimp and Grits destination. Sadly, they do not serve it on a regular basis, which unfortunately continues a trend as my former #1 place, now my #2, Southern Charm, does not offer it as a standing menu item either, only when Chef Art feels like Shrimp and Grits.
The Special this coming Saturday will be Baby Back Ribs but let me tell you, everything Brooks Brothers BBQ prepares is special. Go! Enjoy! You can thank me later!
Bubbly
Mas Appeal serves the Mimosas. He serves them up strong and at $10 for all you can drink, a bargain.
He offers six flavors; Peach, Pear, Mango, Guava, Apricot and Orange Juice.
If his name sounds familiar it’s because he is the same gentleman behind Hip Hop & Hookah. Miguel is also an Emcee, Podcaster and DJ.
Beats, Brunch and Bubbly, a trifecta that will leave you with a smile on your face, in your belly, and in your heart.
